Alice Dawson

Policy Advisor at @DHSCgovuk // Formerly Researcher @Demos. Interested in relational public services, health policy and homelessness. Views my own.

[Ben Glover @bengglover]

This is a welcome first step towards a more respectful, grown-up relationship between politicians and public service professionals.

https://t.co/R9tBXE4kj8

1/5

[Demos @Demos]

🚨NEW RESEARCH🚨

The challenges facing the country are daunting.

From broken public services to a chronic breakdown of trust, the period ahead will be marked by difficult decisions in a fiscally-constrained environment.

Taking the public on this journey will not be easy.

1/

[Demos @Demos]

"If conspiracy theories continue to be dismissed as paranoid delusions that spiral out of control, distrust will continue to fester and conspiracism will continue to thrive."

Great piece from @sophia_a_knight on what we're calling "conspiracy loops"✍️
https://t.co/Fs0pTWHjNC

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

New and important research by my colleague @AndrewDSPhil looking at how careers support can be expanded to all, including those in work

You can read a brilliant summary of the research below 👇👇

[Andrew Phillips @AndrewDSPhil]

The new government is facing significant challenges in the labour market - current employment rate is equivalent to a loss of almost 900,000 workers since the pandemic.

This week, we published new @Demos research with two practical recommendations to address this challenge... 🧵

[Demos @Demos]

📅There are around 1m 'missing workers' from the UK's labour market.

Next week we'll be joined by @csfoot, @tonywilsonIES
& Anne-Marie Soyinka to launch a new report, supported by @PhoenixGroupUK, on how we can tackle this workforce crisis.

Register⬇️
https://t.co/pzYLmqbo9d

[The Centre for Emotional Health @Centrefor_EH]

Great to see #emotionalhealth & the recent @Demos report Strong Foundations: why everyone needs good emotional health – and how to achieve it featured in @SectorFocus. Take a read 👉https://t.co/P0KAZ6Xxr8
To find out about our training head to our website today
@AliceLDawson

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

And for more detail, you can read my @Demos report that the article is based on here https://t.co/4sfKVBPEwP

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

Really pleased to see my article on emotional health published in @SectorFocus this week

I explain why we need to incorporate emotional health into a stronger preventative approach to solving the UK’s mental health crisis

You can read it here https://t.co/UAr8KFOFRZ

[Demos @Demos]

As we near the election, there's real momentum around the need for prevention in public services.

Join us on April 24th to discuss how to convert this momentum into a prevention revolution.

🗣️Anita Charlesworth of @HealthFdn, @JimBethell & @delythjmorgan
https://t.co/vwqPoB65Qw

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

This is something @Demos explored in our report, Strong Foundations - we call for the government to promote the foundations of good mental health, partly by investing in and promoting non-medical assets (like emotional health skills and social capital)

https://t.co/4sfKVBPEwP

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

Really enjoyed this panel discussion with @resfoundation on young people’s mental health

Interesting points were made around avoiding viewing people’s distress purely through a medical lens and ensuring policy solutions address the societal factors influencing mental health

[Resolution Foundation @resfoundation]

And that's a wrap. You can watch back our event - Healthy starts: How mental ill-health shapes the education and economic prospects of young people, with @Alison_McGovern @Annie_Irvine @JoBibbyTHF @_louisemurphy & @TorstenBell here - https://t.co/jbxZVwyGX8

[Ben Glover @bengglover]

Excited for this next week! Our first @Demos Public Services 2030 Network event of 2024 with:

- @KerryMP, shadow climate change minister
- @votedannorris, West of England Mayor
- @carlymclachlan, University of Manchester

Co-curated with @UoMPolicy.

https://t.co/hNz8kbamZI

[Polly Curtis @pollycurtis]

Citizens' Assemblies can help break policy deadlocks and embolden politicians to navigate difficult trade-offs. @Demos is working on a White Paper with @involveUK that will set out how, when and why they can be used to build a more collaborative democracy

https://t.co/nLoxuIlRqS

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

Huge thanks to @Centrefor_EH for their support on this programme of work

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

The full report and recommendations can be found here https://t.co/4sfKVBPEwP

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

3. Investing in training and programmes on emotional health that can be delivered in and tailored to a range of settings including workplaces, families, educational institutions and in local communities.

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

Amidst rising NHS mental health demand, my latest @Demos paper calls for new preventative policy that builds the foundations of good mental health

This must include a focus on our emotional health as a critical protective factor for mental health 🧵https://t.co/4sfKVBPEwP

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

2. Addressing the foundational factors that influence people’s emotional and mental health.

E.g. Measures to directly reduce poverty, such as incomes and benefits payments, and efforts to strengthen social capital and social networks locally.

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

1. Re-committing to a standalone, cross-government mental health and wellbeing plan.

At the heart of this should be a preventative, asset-based approach that recognises the importance of good emotional health for empowering people to look after their mental health.

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

Our recs for the government to achieve good emotional health for all and do more to prevent mental ill-health include:

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

In the paper, we highlight research showing that good emotional health is linked to a lower likelihood of experiencing mental ill-health.
Particularly, emotional health can help build resilience and foster supportive relationships - these are key foundations of good mental health

[Alice Dawson @AliceLDawson]

Emotional health refers to the underlying skills and beliefs that impact how we navigate our emotions and behaviours - this includes our self-awareness, beliefs about others and relationship skills